专业四级听力原文

2024年6月英语四级听力原文(第1套)News Report One.Six people had to move away from their home to another place after a fire broke out in a building on Main Street Saturday, officials said. Firefighters responded to the three-story building shortly after 1 p.m. for a reported structure fire, according to Norwalk Deputy Fire Chief Adam Markowitz.Markowitz said crews encountered heavy smoke coming from the second floor when they arrived.A team of about 25 firefighters then spent about 25 minutes extinguishing the flames.Officials described the structure as a mixed-use building that features commercial businesses on the first floor and residential on the second and third floors.Town records list four apartments in the building.Due to smoke and heat damage, the four apartments were declared uninhabitable, and the six residents had to move to another place, officials said.No injuries were reported in connection with the fire.The Norwalk Fire Marshal is investigating the cause and origin of the fire. Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard. Question 1:Why did the six residents have to find another place to stay? Question 2: What does the news report say the Norwalk Fire Marshal is doing?News Report Two.A new study has cast doubt on historic research suggesting that the season or month of someone's birth is associated with an increased risk of certain mental health conditions.The study looks at symptoms of anxiety and depression among more than 70,000 older adults in Europe.A number of past studies have found the link between season of birth and mental health diagnoses.Researchers have suggested that such links could arise from various things.These include nutrient intake, sun exposure, climate, and disease exposure varying across the course of the year.However, evidence has been mixed.More recent studies have suggested that factors such as social class or economic background have more to do with these diagnoses than month of birth.Overall, the new study found no significant relationship between participants' month of birth and symptoms of depression or anxiety.There was some variability in some countries.In Poland, depressive symptoms fluctuated a little depending on birth month.In the Czech Republic, the same was true of anxiety symptoms.But on the whole, there was no systematic pattern.Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard. Question 3:What have a number of past studies found about season of birth? Question 4: What did the new study find about the relationship between participants' month of birth and symptoms of depression?News Report Three.Genetic researchers in China have made a clone of a star police dog. The clone was born in a laboratory in Beijing in December.Tests show that the clone and her mother are almost identical genetically. The mother dog helped solve multiple murders and many other crimes. The clone has already performed better than traditionally bred dogs on several tests.If the clone continues to perform as well as expected, it could mean a huge reduction in the training time for police dogs, which usually takes about five years.The ultimate goal of scientists is to produce clones of talented police dogs that can be trained in months instead of years.However, this goal is not yet possible due to the current costs of the technology.This is not the first time a clone has been made of a star police dog. In South Korea, six clones began working with the police in 2008. Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard. Question 5: What do the researchers' tests show about the cloned dog? Question 6: What is the scientists' purpose in cloning police dogs? Question 7: Why does the news report say the scientists' goal is not yet possible?Conversation One.Tom, did you see the article online about the new TV series based on the book The Three Body Problem?A colleague mentioned the book, but I've been so busy writing my thesis that 1 haven't been able to read for pleasure in months.Well, sounds like if you're going to read anything for fun, this is the book.It's written by a Chinese science fiction writer.I can't remember his name, but he's written three books in all, and The Three Body Problem is the first in the series.I don't want to say too much and spoil it for you, but it's definitely got some amazing technological and sociological concepts in it.It does sound like it would suit my taste, but if they are making a TV series based on it now, I don't know if I should read the book or watch the show first.I think it's better to read the book first.It's rare for the show or movie to be better than the book.And then, you just end up ruining the book for yourself, if the show isn't very good.When is the show supposed to start?I'm a bit overwhelmed with the amount of data I still need to collect to finish my thesis.But I still need to relax sometimes.I can't remember exactly.It's pretty soon, and it's going to be quite long.There are 24 episodes.Well, maybe you could download an electronic copy of the book and try to read it before the show starts.That's a good idea.And then, maybe we can watch the series together.Thanks for the tip, Alice.W: No problem.Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard. Question 8: How did the man get to know about the book The Three Body Problem?Question 9: What does the woman say she can't remember about the book's author?Question 10: What does the man have to do to finish his thesis? Question 11: What will the man most probably do first after the conversation?Conversation Two.Hello, good afternoon.I have an inquiry to make.It's about the vegetarian food festival you are holding on the 19th of August at the Newcastle City Hall.Yes, of course. My name's Philip How can I help you?It says on your website that you are still looking for vendors, and I grow organic vegetables on my farm, as well as doing my own home baking. Would I be able to sell both the vegetables and items baked from them at the festival?That's exactly the type of thing we are looking for.We're getting close to the deadline, however.Do you prefer to fill out an application on the web, or to print it out and fill it in by hand and then post it back to us?Remember that you will have to have all your certificates to hand whenyou are filling out the forms, as the standards are high and they'll be carefully checked before anyone will be able to sell their produce at the event.I should be fine with doing it on your website, and I already have all my certificates, as we run a small farm shop too.But can you give me your details anyway?Sure. Please address it to the Organic Organization, Vendor Applications, 112 Queens Road, Newcastle, Northumbria.The postcode is NU 29 3LJ.Remember that the closing date is next Tuesday, the 28th of June. That's absolutely wonderful.Thank you so much for your help. Goodbye.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard. Question 12:Why does the woman call the man?Question 13: What is the man still looking for?Question 14: What does the man say they are getting close to? Question 15: What does the man finally ask the woman to remember?Passage One.Supporters call it "wild camping"; opponents call it "illegal camping". What both sides accept is that there has been a boom in the past few months, with increasing numbers of visitors pitching their tents on any bit of land they fancy in the UK.In part, this reflects the fact that official campsites have been wholly or partially closed, or are overflowing in a summer when fewer people are going abroad.It is also cheap, at a time when many are worried about what the economic future holds.But it may also be an expression of a desire for going outdoors- a response to the months of lockdown.Most of the coverage of the boom in wild camping has been negative. Camping in public parks has now been banned for August and the early part of September because campers dump litter, human waste, and even their tents on the grassland.Similar action has been taken even in Scotland, where camping is usually permitted on most of its open land.Clearly there have to be rules.It would make sense that wild campers need to ask for permission to camp from landowners, especially outside Scotland, where the law is far more restrictive.It would be common sense for people to use small tents and leave no trace of their visit.They have been attracted by a patch of land this close to wilderness, and it is their responsibility to keep it that way.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard. Question 16: Why has wild camping become popular in the UK?Question 17:Why is camping banned for part of the summer in public parks? Question 18: What does the speaker suggest campers do?Passage Two.Imagine boating down the Amazon River, minding your own business calmly keeping an eye out for alarmingly large snakes- and a curious pink dolphin appears to swim alongside.While this may seem like a mythical creature, pink dolphins do exist in the Amazon region.The Amazon river dolphin is a giant among its species.It can measure up to 2 meters long and weigh around 204 kilograms. Size isn't the only thing that sets the Amazon river dolphin apart. Thriving in South American rivers and temporary lakes caused by seasonal flooding, this freshwater dolphin is sometimes shockingly pink. Although born gray, males of the species are easily identified as they enter adulthood by a decisive pink shade.Their unusual coloring is believed to be the result of scar tissue from dolphin fights-- whether play-fighting or a serious bid for a mate. The deeper the pink, the more attractive the males are believed to be, and the older the male, the more pink it will have.There's also a theory that this color helps the dolphins more readily blend in with their surroundings.During heavy rains, rivers along the Amazon rainforest turn a pink shade, and with it male dolphins are harder to detect.The Amazon wetland system, fed by the Amazon River, is a crucial place for pink dolphins to breed, and since 2018 has been granted internationally protected status.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard. Question 19: What does the passage say about pink dolphins?Question 20: What is the unusual coloring of pink dolphins believed to originate in?Question 21: What has become of the Amazon wetland system since 2018?Passage Three.In a new Merrill Lynch/Age Wave survey, a full 70% of the early adults said they received financial support from their parents in the past year and 58% said they couldn't afford their current lifestyles without it. The most common types of financial support include cell phone plans, food, school costs and car expenses.Parental financial support of early adults, said Ken Dychtwald, CEO of Age Wave, is "the new normal".But 64% of the young adults surveyed said parents' financial support tochildren age 25 to 34 is "a bad thing", because it makes those kids dependent.By contrast, only 29% thought supporting men and women age 18 to 24 is bad; the remaining 71% thought that assistance "helps the adult children get ahead".Dychtwald believes the young women and men surveyed were saying that by 25 younger adults ought to be financially independent.In fact, the respondents said, financial independence defines adulthood. "Financial independence is something they were struggling with and challenged by. And it scared them a bit," Dychtwald said.One big reason they're struggling is attributed to college loans, of which the average amounts to $37,000.Many of the parents have taken on college loans for the kids, too, sometimes at the expense of their own finances.In the survey, 60% of early adults define financial success as being debt-fee.Whether that's likely, or even possible, anytime soon, is anyone's guess. Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard. Question 22:What do we learn from a new survey by Merrill Lynch/Age Wave? Question 23:Why did most young adults in the survey say financial support to children aged 25 to 34 is a bad thing?Question 24: What did the respondents in the survey say regarding financial independence?Question 25: What is one big reason young adults are struggling?。

2023年12月英语四级听力真题原文(第1套)News Report 1Have you noticed how similar you are to your friends?It may be because your brains operate in harmony with each other.We know that friends are more likely to be the same age, gender and ethnic background as each other.Now it seems their brains are alike, too.Researchers at the University of California scanned the brains of 42 classmates while they watched videos intended to provoke varying responses.Some people might find a romantic scene touching, for instance, while others would feel it was embarrassing.The activity of friends' brains was more similar than that of people who didn't know each other, particularly in regions involved in attention, emotion and language.This similarity was strong enough that it could be used to predict whether two people were already friends or not.The relationship probably goes two ways.We are drawn to people who think like us; we then influence their thoughts over time, which may push their brain activity into more closely resembling our own.Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard. Question 1:What may be the reason that friends are similar to each other according to the recent research?Question 2:What does the news report say about the relationship between friends?News Report 2Two men who have been best friends for 60 years have just realized they are actually brothers.Ifs reported that Alan Robinson and Walter MacDonald met in the 6th grade at a school in Hawaii.They have been best friends ever since.Alan was given away for adoption soon after he was born, and Walter never knew his father.So recently, they made separate attempts on DNA matching websites to discover more about their ancestry.Walter was astonished to find that he matched with website user Robi 737. He knew immediately that this was his best friend Alan, whose friends call him Robi and flew 737 airplanes when he was a pilot.The pair were bom to the same mother 15 months apart.Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard. Question 3: What did both Alan Robinson and Walter MacDonald attempt todo on DNA matching websites?Question 4: What did the news report say about Alan Robinson and Walter MacDonald?News Report 3Amid all the election drama, air pollution problems and disease outbreaks, five tourists' good work is being spread online.Yesterday two male and three female tourists were spotted walking the kilometer-long beach, picking up trash.One of the male tourists from Australia commented that although there was a lot of trash, nobody was doing anything.The beach was not as nice or beautiful as it should be.He felt so sad to see such a gorgeous place littered with so much trash. Thus, he and his friends decided to grab a few trash bags and clean it all up.A man passing by decided to video their good deed and put it on the internet.It was unclear where the rest of the group was from, but they were most likely traveling together.One local woman commented on being embarrassed that tourists were cleaning up their beach.Another mentioned that it was actually the natives who brought food and drinks then left trash all along the island.Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard. Question 5: Why did one of the male tourists feel sad?Question 6: Who put the good deed video on the internet?Question 7: Why did one local woman say she was embarrass?Conversation 1Hello Benjamin, Dan and I will be going for a run along the canal Saturday morning. Would you like to join us?I'd love to, but I hurt my ankle last weekend playing football with work colleagues.Oh dear, is it serious?No, not at all. I landed badly during a fall and twisted it a little, but it's no big deal.It's just a little swollen and I should be fine for next Saturday if you still want to go for a jog then.I won't be here next Saturday. I'm going to the zoo.The zoo?Yeah. My little nephew turns six, and he loves the zoo, so the whole family is going.Oh, okay then. I haven't been to a zoo since I was a kid.They are nowhere near as popular as they used to be when we were children.I personally feel sorry for the poor animals stuck in cages, but there's no denying they are fun and educational for children.Do you know if Dan will be around next Saturday?Yeah, I think he will. Just send him a text message. He's always keen on physical activities.That's true. Dan is extremely fit and healthy. He goes to the gym most days, plus tennis two or three times a week.So, what have you been doing to stay busy while you've had that swollen ankle?I've been catching up on some reading. I was given three books over Christmas, and I'm only now getting around to reading them.Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard. Question 8: Why can't the man go for a run Saturday morning?Question 9:Why is the woman's whole family going to the zoo next Saturday? Question 10: What do we learn about Dan from the man's description? Question 11: What has the man been doing since last weekend?Conversation 2Our guest on today's Book Talk is John Black, the author of the new bestseller, Retire Early.Thanks for having me on the show, Lisa.John, your book is getting a lot of attention, partly because you write that most people can retire by 40. Is that realistic?Definitely. When researching this book, I interviewed hundreds of people who retired by 40.Okay, but how much money does a person need to retire? I've read articles recommending one million dollars as a good figure for retirement. While most financial planners do give numbers, I don't think that's useful, as people are living in different areas with different costs of living, and have different needs and wants, which is why I suggest that people aim for financial independence.What do you mean by financial independence?Having investment income that's greater than monthly expenses.That sounds risky to me. What if an accident happens or you get ill and need medical treatment? Shouldn't people have extra cash for emergencies? Too many people spend their lives working on jobs they hate because they're afraid, so I counsel people to take risks. Retirement doesn't have to be permanent, and if people need to, they can go back to work.But it's not always easy to get back into the workforce after an extended absence.True, but if you keep current with your skills, you will be attracted to employers.Maybe, but how can anyone save enough to retire by 40 when most people can't retire at 60?Simple, by cutting housing, food, and transport expenses, and investing half your monthly income.That sounds impossible.I admit it's difficult, but it has worked for thousands.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard. Question 12: What do we learn about the man's book published recently? Question 13: What do the articles the woman read recommend?Question 14: What does the man say about retirement?Question 15: How does the man say his proposal about retirement can be carried out?Passage 1New research from America studies the role that the presence of individuals from different social or racial groups has in influencing consumers' food choices.This research found college students were more likely to choose healthy food in the presence of an observer of a different race, as opposed to an observer from their own race.The same was true when they were with someone from a different university, compared to someone from their own.Researchers say this was because participants anticipated more negative judgment from an outsider group.In contrast, they felt less judged by members of their own group.In one experiment, participants were offered the choice between candy and fruit as a snack.When in the presence of an unknown student from their own university, only 12 per cent of students selected the healthier option.However, this number was 31 per cent when in the presence of ae unknown student from another university.Other experiments showed similar results based on racial group.What's the reason for this pattern? The study found that people feel judged to a larger extent by members of other groups.Because of this, they strategically use healthy food choices to make a positive impression.There have been many attempts to help consumers make healthier choices, but consumers often struggle to maintain a healthy diet.This research finds that one way to promote a healthy diet could be to advertise the social benefits of healthy choices.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard. Question 16:What was the finding of the new research from America about consumers' food choices?Question 17: When did 31 per cent of students in the experiment select the healthier option?Question 18:How could a healthy diet be promoted according to the findingsof the new research?Passage 2For college students under pressure, a dog may be the best stress fighter around, according to the finding of a recent study."It's a really powerful finding," said Patricia Pendry, who led the study. "Universities are doing a lot of great work trying to help students succeed academically, especially those who may be at risk due to a history of mental health issues or academic and learning issues.This study shows that traditional stress management approaches aren’t as effective for this population compared with programs that focus on providing opportunities to interact with therapy dogs."The researchers measured executive functioning in the students involved in the study.Executive function is a term for the skills one needs to plan, organize, motivate, concentrate and memorize.These are skills students need to succeed in college.The researchers found that students who were most at risk had the most improvements in executive functioning after interacting with therapy dogs.These results remained when researchers followed up six weeks later. Many universities provide academic stress management programs and workshops.These are traditionally very similar to college classes.They often talk about ways to get more sleep, set goals, or manage stress or anxiety.Pendry acknowledges that these are really important topics and these workshops help typical students succeed.But they're less helpful for struggling students.Pendry believes those students may experience the programs as another lecture and feel even more stressed.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard. Question 19: What does the recent study led by Patricia Pendry aim to examine?Question 20: What did the new study measure in the participants? Question 21: What does Patricia Pendry think traditional stress management programs may do?Passage 3Taking risks in business does not mean going into business blindly and then expecting great results.On the contrary, taking risks in entrepreneurship involves careful planning and hard work.Nobody can really be sure if risks will be met with success, no matterhow calculated they may be.But this should not stop you from taking risks, as risks are necessary if you want your business to succeed.Some risks may not work out, but an optimistic risk-taker will always look at failure as an opportunity to learn.The willingness to experiment with new ideas is key to business growth. As the old saying goes, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained."Failure will teach you how to think and plan strategically.But just remember that not all risks are good ones, and when you fail, learn it and move forward.Since most people tend to avoid risk, businesses that are brave enough to take risks already have a competitive advantage.They are the ones setting the standard with new ideas, fresh offers and bold inventions.Risktakers are best at adapting in difficult times.Simply put, when most individuals stay away risk, it means less competition for risk-takers.We don't know if you'll achieve what these risk-takers have achieved. But for as long as you want to stay safe, and for as long as you are content with where your business is right now, you will never find out. Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard. Question 22:What do entrepreneurs have to do when taking risks according to the passage?Question 23: What does the passage say is key to business growth? Question 24: What are we advised to do when we fail?Question 25:What does it mean to risk-taking businesses when most people tend to avoid risk?。

2021专四听力原文Part I:Dialogue 1Jenny: Hey, Tom, have you heard about the new restaurant that just opened downtown?Tom: No, I haven't. What's it called?Jenny: It's called "Chopsticks" and it serves really tasty Chinese food.Tom: That sounds good. Have you been there yet?Jenny: Yes, I went there last weekend with some friends and we had a great time. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was really nice.Tom: Great! Let's go there for lunch tomorrow.Dialogue 2Lisa: Excuse me, could you help me find the post office, please? Man: Sure, it's about three blocks east from here. Just keep walking down this street and you'll see it on your left.Lisa: Thank you so much. I'm new to this city, so I really appreciate your help.Man: No problem. If you need any more help, just let me know. Lisa: Thanks, I will.Part II:Passage 1:There are many advantages to studying abroad. Firstly, you have the opportunity to experience a new culture and way of life. This can be really enriching and broaden your perspectives. Additionally, you can improve your language skills in a natural and immersive environment, which is much more effective than studying in a classroom. Finally, studying abroad can help you to develop independence and self-reliance, as you will have to navigate a new country and culture on your own.Passage 2:There are many challenges that come with working from home. Firstly, it can be difficult to stay focused and motivated when you are not in a structured environment. Additionally, you may experience feelings of isolation and loneliness if you are not regularly interacting with colleagues. Finally, it can be difficult to separate work and home life when you are working from home, and this can lead to feelings of burnout and stress.Part III:Conversation 1:Man: I'm thinking about getting a new car. Do you have any recommendations?Woman: Well, it depends on what you're looking for. Do you want something that's efficient and good for commuting, or something more luxurious?Man: I don't really care about luxury. I just want something reliable and affordable.Woman: In that case, I would recommend a Toyota or a Honda. They are both known for their reliability and have decent gas mileage.Man: Thanks, I'll look into those.Conversation 2:Woman: I'm really nervous about my presentation tomorrow. I haven't had much time to prepare.Man: Don't worry, you've got this. Just take some deep breaths and focus on the key points you want to make.Woman: But what if I forget everything I want to say?Man: That's unlikely. And even if you do, just take a pause and collect your thoughts. It's better to take a few seconds to composeyourself than to rush through the presentation and say things you don't mean. Plus, you can always refer to your notes if you need to. Woman: You're right. Thanks for your support.。

专四答案+听力原文Part Ⅰ DICTATIONLearning SympathyA big part of being human is feeling sympathy，/ but how early on in our lives do we learn this? / Scientists find that babies respond to other people / by crying when other babies cry. / However，babies can’t distinguish between themselves and others / until they’re eighteen to twenty months old. / Toddlers start to show concern for others around this time. / Kids also begin to do things like comforting other people. / And by the time they’re three，/ most children will try to protect a victim in a fight.Part Ⅱ LISTENING COMPREHENSIONSECTION A TALK1. a physical classroom2. a coherent concept3. personalized curriculum4. (more) meaningful practice5. feedback6. collaborative learning7. question and answer8. fundamental human right9. lifelong learning10. innovationSECTION B CONVERSATIONS1. What’s wrong with the man’s computer?答案：A. It has wiped the data from the flash drive.2. How will the man be compensated if the computer can’t be fixed?答案：C. Get a new computer.3. How did the man feel about the woman’s offer of compensation?答案：D. Dissatisfied.4. When will the service engineer come to fix the computer?答案：B. After 8:30 tomorrow morning.5. What is the man’s phone number?答案：A. 6574-3205.6. What sho uld we do if our neighbors didn’t reach out?答案：B. Introduce ourselves first.7. Which is the best way to handle a noisy neighbor?答案：C. Give him a reason to stop.8. What should we do if we have a nosy neighbor?答案：D. Don’t answer their que stions.9. How long do we expect our neighbors to stay?答案：B. Five to ten minutes.10. Where can we get more information on this topic?答案：D. CBS news website.Part III LANGUAGE USAGE11. B. Whatever12. A. on which13. C. women drivers14. B. present event for tentativeness15. D. make a suggestion16. B. disappointment17. D. would later make18. C. to have been created19. A. would have been… had been20. C. that21. B. characters22. D. ensure23. B. relieve24. A. releases25. C. indicative26. B. eye27. A. critically28. C. on29. D. bound30. A. invariablyPart IV CLOZE31. ［F］implications32. ［N］single33. ［B］barely34. ［L］online35. ［C］demise36. ［M］rising37. ［I］naturally38. ［G］leaf39. ［H］lost40. ［J］objectPart V READING COMPREHENSIONSECTION A MULTIPLE CHOICEQUESTIONSPASSAGE ONE41. In Para. 4，the phrase “hit the jackpot” means according to the context.答案：C. broke one of the objects42. It can be concluded from Paras. 5 and 6 that .答案：D. people hold entirely different views on the issue43. How did the author feel about the treasure from the Atocha (Para. 7)?答案：A. She was glad that people can have a chance to see the treasure.PASSAGE TWO44. It can be learned from the beginning that Miriam’s attitude tow ards love between her and Paul is .答案：C. pessimistic45. The narration in Para. 3 tells us that Miriam had all the following feelings EXCEPT . 答案：A. delight46. Which of the following statements is CORRECT about the family’s response to Paul’s mockery?答案：B. Every member except Miriam was amused.PASSAGE THREE47. Why does the author give two examples in Para. 2?答案：A. To show that literacy is interpreted in different ways.48. According to the author，the following are some of the defining features of literacy EXCEPT .答案：D. independent49. Which of the following statements about reading and writing is CORRECT?答案：C. Reading often requires more immediate interaction than writing.50. What do the last two paragraphs mainly focus on (Paras. 10 and 11)?答案：B. Effects of illiteracy and associated problems.SECTION B SHORT ANSWERQUESTIONS阐明：简答题答案不唯一，意思对即可。

20236月四级听力原文Short Conversations11.W.Ther.wer.mor.tha..hundre.peopl.a.Kate'.birthda.party .she'.go.s.man.friends?M.It'.reall.n.surprise.Yo.kno.sh.wa.popula.eve.whe.sh.wa.. childQ: What does the man imply about Kate?12.M.The.sa.there'l.b..snow-s.quit..fe.days.W.Oh.We'r.s.lucky.we'l.b.gettin.awa.fo..while.an.havin..holi da.i.Florida.Bu.let'.cal.righ.no.t.confir.ou.flight.Q: What do we learn about the two speakers?13.W.Ton.wa.awarde..meda.fo.rescuin.severa.familie.fro.th.fores.fire.M: I really admire his courage.Q: What do we learn about Tony from the conversation?14.M.M.washin.machin.i.mor.tha.fiftee.year.ol.an.i.ha.works.night.W.You’l.neve.b.abl.t.ge.part.fo.it.eve.fro.Japan.S.i.migh.b.tim.t.inv es..mor.recen.model.Q: What does the woman suggest the man do?15.W..hear.abou.you.promotion.yo.mus.b.thrilled.M: Not really, the new office is huge, but the word loadhas doubled.Q: What do we learn about the man from the conversation?16.W..can’.decid.wha.t.d.abou.th.part.tomorrow.M: You don’t have to go if you don’t want to, but I’ll be glad to give you a ride if you do.Q: What do we learn from the conversation?17.M.No.i.yo.hav.an.question.abou.th.contract.I’l.b.happ.t.answe.them.W: Nothing come s to mind right now, but I’d like to go over all the articles of the contract once more before signing it. Q: What are the speakers doing right now?18.M.W.ar.ou.o.pape.fo.th.printer.Ca.yo.pleas.orde.some? plete.th.orde.for.onlin.yesterda.an.i.wil.b.her.b.noo n.I’e.in.Q: What did the woman do?Long ConversationConversation OneW.Bob.d.yo.kno.wh..sa.th.othe.day.Ol.Jake.lookin.terribl.d st?M.Yes.The.mad.hi.retir.afte.5.year.a.sea.H.i.prett.upse.ab ou.it.bu.wha.ca.yo.do.H.reall.i.pasted.W: He is all alone, isn’t he?M.Yes.hi.wif.ha.bee.dea.fo.years.The.ha.on.daughter.Dori es.Bu.sh.wen.of.t.tow.a.soo.a.sh.lef.school.An.h.hasn’.h ear.fro.he.since..hea.sh.i.makin.goo.mone.a..model..bac.fo. .whil.t.help?M..don’e.Sh.neve.go.o.wit.he.father.H.i.b i.o..toug.characte.an.sh.i.rathe.selfish.Oh..expec.ol.Jak.wil e.int..clini.fo..chec.regularly. W: Are you his doctor?M.No.m.partne.docto.Johnso.is.W: That bad-tempered old thing?M.Oh.h.isn’.bad-tempered.H.jus.look.it.H.i.a.excellen.doctor.taugh.m..lot.an .h.ha..ver.nic.family.Hi.wif.invite.m.ove.ther.t.suppe.ever.w eek.Ver.pleasant. z.abou.he.schoo.work.bu..brigh.littl.thin.an.ver.popula.wit. he.ag.group.Questions 19 to 22 are based on the conversation you’ve just heard.19.Wh.doe.ol.Jak.loo.terribl.depressed?20.Wha.d.w.lear.abou.Jake’.wife?21.Wha.doe.th.ma.sa.abou.Jake’.daughter?22.Wha.doe.th.ma.sa.abou.Jake’.doctor?Conversation TwoW.Hello.Mr.Summerfield.Ho.ar.yo.today?M.Ver.well.Than.you.Ms.Green.W: What can I do for you?M.Well.unfortunately.ther.i..proble.wit.th.orde.w.receive.fro .yo.yesterday.I.seem.w.haven’.see.th.righ.quantit.o.man ual.t.suppor.th.telephon.system.W.Oh.dear.that’.ba.news.I’.ver.sorr.t.hea.that.an.yo.do n’.kno.ho.man.pack.ar.withou.manuals?M.No.becaus.w.haven’.opene.ever.pack.Bu.i.severa.o.th os.tha.hav.bee.opene.ther.ar.none.n.manuals.W.I’.ver.sorr.abou.thi.inconvenience.Mr.Summerfield.We ’l.sen.ou.th.manual.thi.afternoo.b.expres.mai.entirel.a.ou.c test. M: All of them, right?W.Yes.I.mayb.tha.som.hav.the.already.bu.w.canno.b.sure. S.th.bes.thin.i.t.sen.ou.th.manua.fo.ever.pack.M.Yes.Yes..see.Tha.woul.b.great.W.Pleas.accep.ou.apologie.fo.thi.mix-up..assur.yo.w.wil.d.everythin.possibl.t.fin.ou.wh.th.mistak. happenedM.Right.Thank.fo.you.swif.action.W.No.a.all.Than.yo.an.goodby.fo.now.D.cal.i.ther.i.anythin .else.M.Al.right.Than.you.Goodbye.M.Green.W: Goodbye.Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation you’ve just heard.23.Wha.problem.ar.th.speaker.discussing?24.Wha.doe.th.woma.promis.t.do?25.Wha.doe.th.ma.thin.o.th.solution?PassagePassage 1Attractin.an.feedin.wil.bird.ar.entertainin.activitie.tha.hav.lo n.bee.enjoye.b.peopl.al.ove.th.world.Feedin.bird.ha.beco m.s.popula.tha.prepare.fee.mixture.ar.readil.available.W.f .fro.watc hin.birds..hobb.ofte.develop.int..seriou.stud.o.thei.habits.A uall.th.firs.goal.Bu.observatio n.tha.a.amateu.bird-watche.ca.mak.ar.reall.limitless.Ther.is.however.responsib ilit.associate.wit.bir.feeding.includin..diseas.hazard.Attracti n.number.o.bird.continuall.t.th.sam.spo.ca.b.harmfu.t.them .particularl.specie.tha.pic.foo.fro.th.groun.contaminate.b.th .dropping.o.othe.birds.I.winte.feedin.effort.ar.mos.satisfyin. t.peopl.an.ar.o.greates.benefi.t.birds.Durin.thi.tim.whe.few e.natura.food.ar.availabl.an.ai.temperature.ar.lower.extr.fe edin.ca.kee..bir.war.an.well.Onc.begun.feedin.shoul.neve. sto.durin.thes.lea.months.I.yo.star..loca.increas.o.birds.b.p repare.t.d.wha.ma.b.require.t.eliminat.hazard.t.thos.yo.wa n.t.befriend..constan.suppl.o.foo.shoul.b.give.unti.th.col.i.o e.I.feedin.i.stoppe.durin.sever.weather. e.t.relyin.upo.th.feeder.mus.starve.Questions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you’ve just heard.Q26 What does the speaker say about bird watching?Q27 What does the speaker say about birds fed continually on the same spot?Q28 What does the speaker suggest we do in feeding birds in winter?Passage 2M.frien.Le.make.u.wea.an.poo.excuse.wheneve.ther.i.som ethin.h.doesn’.wan.t.do.Jus.tw.week.ago.h.wa.a.m.hous. whe.h.decide.h.didn’.wan.t.g.int.work.H.calle.hi.bos.an.s ai.h.ha.t.ge..ne.se.o.tire.pu.o.hi.truck.The.h.sa.dow.an.wat che.T.wit.me.No.onl.ha.h.lie.bu.hi.excus.wasn’..ver.convi s .minut.tellin.he.h.ha.t.ge..ne.batter.fo.hi.truck.Sh.wa.angr.a s.weekend. Le.offere.th.poores.excus.yet.He’.promise.he’.hel.m.m ov.som.furniture.fro.m.parents.hous.t.m.ne.apartment.H.w a.suppose.t.brin.hi.truc.ove.abou..o’cloc.Saturda.morning..waited.an.the.calle.an.lef..messag.o .hi.machine.Abou.11:30.h.calle.an.sai.h.wa.sorr.bu.he’.b ee.gettin..ne.se.o.tire.pu.o.hi.truck..gues.he’.forgotte.h.u se.th.sam.excus.whe.h.calle.hi.bos.fro.m.house..thin..nee. .ne.se.o.friends.I’.beginnin.t.ge.tire.o.Leo’.excuses. Questions 29 to 31 are based on the passage you’ve just heard.Q29 What does the speaker tell us about her friend Leo? Q30 What did his girlfriend do when Leo canceled a date with her at the last minute?Q31 What favor did the speaker ask Leo to do last weekend?Passage 3I.Hollywood.everybod.want.t.b.rich.famou.an.beautiful.Nob od.want.t.b.old.unknow.an.poor.Fo.Hollywoo.kids.lif.ca.b.d ifficul.becaus.the.gro.u.suc.a.unrea.atmosphere.Thei.pare nt.ar.ambitiou.an.th.childre.ar.par.o.th.parents.ambitions.P arent.pa.fo.wastefu.gran.parties.expensiv.car.an.designe.c .true.kid.don’.lear.th.valu.o. anythin.becaus.the.hav.everything..thirteen-year-ol.boy.Tren.Maguire.ha..driver.credi.card.an.unlimite.cas.t.d.wha.h.want.whe.h.want.to.“On.day.I’l.ear.mor.tha.m.dad!.h.boasts.Parent.bu.car.an.attentio.fo.t hei.childre.becaus.the.hav.n.tim.t.giv.i.themselves.Amend er’.mothe.employ..persona.trainer..bodyguard..singin.co ac.an..councilo.t.loo.afte.al.he.fifteen-year-ol.daughter’.needs.Often.ther.i.n.paren.a.hom.mos.days. s.childre.decid.whethe.t.mak.thei.ow.meal.o.g.ou.t.restaur aniz.thei.s ocia.life.The.pla.n.childhoo.games.The.becom.adult.befor. they’r.ready.Hollywoo.ha.alway.bee.th.cit.o.dreams.Th.kid.ther.liv.unrea.live.wher.money.beaut.an.pleasur.ar.th.onl.gods. Wil.childre.aroun.th.worl.soo.star.t.thin.th.same.O.d.the.alr eady?Questions 32 to 35 are based on the passage you’ve just heard.Q32 Why is life said to be difficult for Hollywood kids?Q33 What does the speaker say about Trent Maguire, a thirteen-year-old boy?Q34 Why does Amender’s mother employ other people to look after her needs?Q35 What will probably have negative effects on the lives of Hollywood kids?Compound DictationAroun.12.year.ago.Ebbinghau.bega.hi.stud.o.memory.H.concent rmation.O n.resul.o.hi.researc.i.know.a.th.tota.tim.hypothesis.whic.simpl.m ea.th.amoun.yo.lear.depend.o.th.tim.yo.spen.tryin.t.lear.it.Thi.ca.uall.tru.tha.studyin.fo .th..ho urs.Fo.example.i.i.bette.t.stud.fo..hour.straigh.o.t.stud.fo..hou..da .fo..day.i..row.Th.answer.a.yo.ma.hav.suspected.i.tha.i.i.bette.t.s prea.ou.th.stud.times.Thi.phenomeno.throug.whic.w.ca.lear.mor.efficientl.b.dividin.ou.practic.tim.i.know.a.th.distributio.o.practi c.effect.Thus.ou.secon.rul.o.learnin.i.this.It’.bette.t.stud.fairl.br iefl.bu.often.Bu.w.ar.no.finishe.yet.W.haven’.considere.ho.w.s houl.stud.ove.ver.shor.period.o.time.Let’.sa.yo.ar.tryin.t.lear.so in..stac.o.cards.Shoul.y o.loo.a.th.sam.wor.i.rapi.successio.o.loo.a.th.wor.an.the.hav.som. dela.befor.yo.loo.a.i.again.Th.answe.i.i.i.bette.t.spac.u.th.present ation.o.th.wor.yo.ar.t.learn.。

23年12月四级听力原文英文回答：Passage 1。

Narrator: Welcome to "The World of History." I'm your host, Dr. Emily Carter. Today, we'll travel back in time to explore the fascinating life and legacy of Alexander the Great.Alexander was born in Pella, Macedonia in 356 BC. His father, Philip II, was a brilliant military strategist who transformed Macedonia into a powerful kingdom. From a young age, Alexander showed exceptional promise as a warrior and leader.At the age of 20, Alexander became king of Macedonia after his father's assassination. Driven by an insatiable thirst for conquest, he embarked on a remarkable military campaign that stretched from Greece to India.Over the next 13 years, Alexander's armies conquered a vast empire that extended over 2,200 miles. He defeated the Persian Empire, the Egyptian Empire, and numerous other kingdoms. Alexander's conquests not only expanded the boundaries of the known world but also spread Greek culture and influence throughout the Mediterranean region.Alexander's military genius was unparalleled. He employed innovative tactics, such as the phalanx formation, and used a combination of heavy infantry, cavalry, and siege engines to overwhelm his opponents. He was also a skilled diplomat and administrator, who respected the customs of the conquered peoples and encouraged cultural exchange.Beyond his military prowess, Alexander was a patron of the arts and sciences. He founded new cities, including Alexandria in Egypt, which became a center of learning and scholarship. He supported scholars such as Aristotle, who served as his tutor during his youth.In 323 BC, at the age of 32, Alexander the Great died in Babylon under mysterious circumstances. His vast empire was divided among his generals, leading to a period of instability and fragmentation known as the Hellenistic Period.Alexander's legacy continues to inspire and fascinate people around the world. He is remembered as one of the greatest military commanders in history, a brilliant strategist, and a visionary leader who shaped the course of Western civilization.Passage 2。

英语专业四级TEM4听⼒听写原⽂1993—2013英语专业四级考试1993年——203年听写原⽂1993 Package HolidaysPackage holidays, covering a two weeks' stay in an attractive place, are increasingly popular. Once you get to the airport, it is up to the tour operator to see that you get safely to your destination．Everything is laid on for you．There is, in fact, no reason for you to bother to arrange anything yourselves．You make friends and have a good time. But there is very little chance that you will really get to know the local people．This is even less likely on a coach tour, when you spend almost your entire time traveling．Of course, there are carefully planned stops for you to visit historic buildings and monuments. You may visit the beautiful, the historic, the ancient. But time is always short．There is also the added disadvantage of being obliged to spend you holiday with a group of people you have never met before．(1994) The American FamilyThe American family unit is changing. There used to be mainly two types of families, the extended and the nuclear. The former included mother, father, children, and some other relatives such as grandparents, living in the same house or nearby. Then as the economy progressed from agricultural to industrial, people began moving to different parts of the country in order to search for job opportunities. These moves split up the extended family. The nuclear family consisting of only parents and children has therefore become far more wide spread. Today’s family, however, can be composed of diverse co mbinations. With the divorce rate nearly one in two, there's an increase in single-parent homes—a father or mother living with one or more children. Blended families occur when divorced men and women remarry and combine the children from former marriages into a new family. On the other hand, there is an increase in childless couples while one in rive Americans lives alone.(1995) Unidentified Flying ObjectsThere are many explanations for why UFOs visit the Earth. / The most popular one is that they maybe visitors from other planets./ To fly such aircraft, their builders must develop different forms of aviation,/because they seem to fly much faster than normal aircraft./ The UFOs, it is believed, must contain scientists/ from other planets who are studying life on earth./ It is even believed that several such aircraft may have landed on earth/ and the space visitors may be living amongst us./ But there are also less fantastic explanations available./ Although some sightings of UFOs are difficult to explain, most can be explained quite easily./ In many cases the observers might have made a mistake./ They might have seen a weather balloon or an aircraft./ Or the light they saw in the sky might have been light from the ground,/ reflected on to the clouds./ However, the exact cause of many sightings still remained a mystery.(1996) The Indian Medicine ManAmong the Indians of North America, the medicine man was a very important person. He could cure illness and he could speak to the spirits. The spirits were the supernatural forces that controlled the world. The Indians believed that bad spirits made people ill. So when people were ill, the medicine man tried to help them by using magic. He spoke to the good spirits and asked for their help. Many people were cured, because they thought the spirits were helping them, but really these people cured themselves. Sometimes your own mind is the best doctor for you. The medicine men were often successful for another reason, too. They knew about plants that really can cure illness. A lot of medicines are made from the plants that were used by medicine men hundred of years ago.(1997) Legal Age for MarriageThroughout the United States, the legal age for marriage shows some difference. The most common age without parents’consent is 18 for both females and males. However, persons who are under age in their home state can get married in another state, and then return to the home state legally married. Each state issues its own marriage license. Both residents and non-residents are qualified for such a license. The fees and ceremonies vary greatly from state to state. Most states, for instance, have a blood test requirement, but a few do not. Most states permit either a civil or religious ceremony, but a few require the ceremony to be religious. In most states a waiting period is required before the license is issued. This period is from one to five days depending on the state. A three-day-wait is the most common. In some states there is no required waiting period.(1998) The Railways in BritainThe success of early railways, such as the lines between big cities,/ led to a great increase in railway building in Victorian times. / Between 1835 and 1865 about 25000 kilometers of track were built,/ and over 100 railway companies were created. / Railway travel transformed people's lives. / Trains were first designed to carry goods. / However, a law in the 19th centuryforced railway companies to run one cheap train a day / which stopped at every station and cost only a penny a mile. / Soon working class passengers found they could afford to travel by rail. / Cheap day excursion trains became popular and seaside resorts grew rapidly. / The railways also provided thousands of new jobs:/ building carriages, running the railways and repairing the tracks. / Railways even changed the time. / The need to run the railways on time meant that local time was abolished/ and clocks showed the same time all over the country.(1999) United Nations DayThe 24th of October is celebrated as United Nations Day. h is a day that belongs to everyone. And it is celebrated in most countries of the world. Some countries celebrate for a week instead of a day. In many parts of the world, schools have special programs for the day. Boys and girls in some communities decorate a UN tree. In other communities,young people put on plays about the UN. Some libraries exhibit children’s art works from around the world. Schools celebrate with the songs and dances of other countries or give parties where foods of other countries are served. No matter how the day is celebrated, the purpose of these celebrations is to help everyone understand the UN, and the important roles it plays in world affairs. The UN encourages people to learn about other lands and their customs. In this way, people can gain a better understanding and appreciation of peoples all over the world.(2000) What We Know About LanguageMany things about language are a mystery and will remain so. However, we now do know something about it. First, we know that all human beings have a language of some sort. No human race anywhere on earth is so backward that it has no language of its own at all. Second, there is no such thing as a primitive language. There are many peoples whose cultures are undeveloped but the languages they speak are by no means primitive. In all the languages existing in the world today, there are complexities that must have been developed for years. Third, we know that all languages are perfectly adequate. Each is a perfect means of expressing its culture. And finally, we know that language changes over time, which is natural and normal if a language is to survive. The language which remains unchanged is nothing but dead.(2001) Characteristics of A Good ReaderTo improve your reading habits, you must understand the characteristics of a good reader. First, the good reader usually reads rapidly. Of course, he does not read every piece of material at the same rate. But whether he is reading a newspaper or a chapter in a physics text, his reading rate is relatively fast. He has learned to read for ideas rather than words one at a time. Next, the good reader can recognize and understand general ideas and specific details. Thus he is able to comprehend the material with a minimum of effort and a maximum of interest. Finally, the good reader has in his command several special skills, which he can apply to reading problems as they occur. For the college student, the most helpful of these skills include making use of the various aids to understanding that most text books provide and skim-reading for a general survey. (2002) Disappearing ForestsThe world’s forests are disappearing. As much as 1/3 of the total tree cover has been lost since agriculture began some 10,000 years ago. The remaining forests are home to half of the world’s species, thus becoming the chief resour ce for their survival. Tropical rain forests once covered 12% of the land of the planet, as well as supporting at least half of the world’s species of plants and animals. These rain forests are home to millions of people. But there are other demands on them. For example, much has been cut for timber. An increasing amount of forest land has been used for industrial purposes or for agricultural development such as crop-growing. By the 1990’s less than half of the earth’soriginal rain forests remained, and they continued to disappear at an alarming rate every year. As a result the world’s forests are now facing gradual extinction.(2003) SalmonEvery year, millions of salmon swim from the ocean into the mouths of rivers and then steadily up the rivers. Passing through waters, around rocks and waterfalls, the fish finally reach their original streams or lakes. They dig out nests in the riverbed and lay their eggs. Then, exhausted by their journey, the parent salmon die. They have finished the task that nature has given them. Months, or years later, the young fish start their trip to the ocean. They live in the salt water from 2-7 years, until they, too are ready to swim back to reproduce. Their life cycle helps man provide himself with a basic food-fish. When the adult salmon gather at the river mouths for the annual trip up the rivers, they are in the best possible condition, and nearly every harbor has its salmon fishing fleet ready to catch thousands for markets.(2004) MoneyMoney is accepted across the world as payment for goods or services. People use money to buy food, clothes and hundreds of other things. In the past, many different things were used as money. People on Pacific islands once exchanged shells for goods. The Chinese used cloth and knives. In Africa, elephant tusks or salt were used. Even today, some people in Africaare still paid in salt. Coins were first invented by the Chinese. Originally, they were round pieces of metal with a hole in the center, so that a piece of string could keep them together. This made doing business much easier, but people still found coins inconvenient to carry when they wanted to buy something expensive. To solve this problem, the Chinese again came up with the solution. They began to use paper money for coins. Now paper notes are used throughout the world.（2005）The Wrist WatchIt is generally believed that wrist watches are an exception / to the normal sequence in the evolution of man's jewelry. / Reversing the usual order, they were first worn by women, / and then adopted by men. / In the old days, queens included wrist watches among their crown jewelry. / Later, they were worn by Swiss workers and farmers. / Until World War I, Americans associated the watch with fortune hunters. / Then army officers discovered that the wrist watch was most practical for active combat. / Race car drivers also loved to wear wrist watches, / and pilots found them most useful while flying. / Soon men dared to wear wrist watches without feeling self-conscious. / By 1924, some 30 percent of man's watches were worn on the wrist. / Today, the figure is 90 percent. / And they are now worn by both men and women / for practical purposes rather than for decoration.2006 The InternetThe Internet is the most significant progress in the field of communications. / Imagine abook that never ends, a library with a million floors, / or imagine a research project with thousands of scientists / working around the clock forever. / This is the magic of the Internet. / Yet the Internet has the potential for good and bad. / One can find well-organized, information-rich websites. / At the same time, one can also find wasteful websites. / Most websites are known as different Internet applications. / These include online games, chat rooms (chatrooms) and so on. / These applications have great power, too. / Sometimes the power can be so great / that young people may easily become victims to their attraction. / So we need to recognize the seriousness of the problem. / We must work together to use its power for better ends.2007 AdvertisingAdvertising has already become a specialized activity in modern times. In today’s business world, supply is usually greater than demand. There is great competition between manufacturers of the same kind of product because they want to persuade customers to buy their particular brand. They always have to remind their customers of the name and qualities of their products by advertising. The manufacture advertises in newspapers and on the radio. He sometimes employs sales girls to distribute samples of their products. He sometimes advertises on the Internet as well. In addition, he always has advertisements put into television programs that will accept them. Manufactures often spend huge sums of money on advertisements. We buy a particular product because we think that is the best. We usually think so because the advertisements say so. People often don’t ask themselves if the advertisements are telling the truth when they buy advertised products from shops.2008 Choosing a CareerWhen students graduate from college, many of them do not know how they want to spend their working lives and they sometimes move from job to job, until they find something that suits them and of equal importance to which they are suited. Others never find the job in which they are really happy. They remain all their lives square pegs in round holes. When we choose our careers we need to ask ourselves two questions. First, what do we think we would like to be? Second, what kind of people are we? The idea, for example, of being a painter or a musician may seem very attractive. But unless we have great talent and are willing to work very hard, we are certain to fail in these occupations and failure will lead to unhappiness in life. So it is important to assess our suitability for a certain career in job search.2009 New Year's EveFor many people in the west, New Year's Eve is the biggest party of the year. /lt's the ti me to get together with friends or family/and welcome in the coming year. / New Year's p arties can take place in different places. /Some people hold a house party; others attend st reet parties;/ while some just go for a few drinks with their friends. /Big cities have largeand spectacular fireworks displays. / There is one thing that all New Year's Eve parties ha ve in common,/ the countdown to midnight./ When the clock strikes 12, people give a lou d cheer and sing songs./ It's also popular to make a promise in the New Year. /This is call ed a New Year's resolution. / Typical resolutions include giving up smoking and keeping f it./However, the promise is often broken quite quickly /and people are back into their bad habits within weeks or days.2010 Freshman’s WeekBritain has a well-respected higher education system and some of the top universities and research institutions in the world. But to those who are new to this system, it can someti mes be confusing. October is usually the busiest month in the academic calendar. Univers ities have something called “freshman?s week” for their newcomers. It?s a great opport unity tomake new friends, join in lots of clubs and settle into university life. However, ha ving just left the comfort of home and all your friends behind, the prospect of meeting str angers in classrooms and dormitories can be worrying. Where do you start? And who sho uld you make friends with? Which clubs and society should you join? Luckily, there will be thousands of others in the same boat as you. They worry about starting their university social life on the right foot. So just take it all in slowly. Don?t rush into anything that yo u?ll regret for the next three years.2011 British holidaying habitsIn the late 1970s, air travel became affordable for the average family in the UK, and more people started travelling abroad for their summer holidays. After all, the British weather wasn't very good, even in summer, so a lot of people left the country for a vacation. In the 1980s and 1990s, young people in the UK became wealthier on average. As a result, they started to go abroad in groups to places such as Spain and Greece. Once they arrived at their destination, they met with other groups of young people and had one long party. British holidaying habits have begun to change, however. Climate change means that the UK now has a hotter climate, so people do not need to go overseas to find good weather. Also, going abroad is more expensive. As a result, more British people are choosing to spend their summer holidays in the UK.2012 EcotourismNowadays many of us try to live a way that will damage the environment as tittle as possi ble. We recycle our newspapers and bottles; we take public transport to get to work; and we try to buy locally produced fruit and vegetables. And we want to take these attitudes o n holiday with us. This is why alternative forms of tourism are becoming popular in the w orld. There are lots of names for these new forms of tourism: responsible tourism, nature tourism, adventure tourism, educational tourism and more.Although everyone may have a different definition, most people agree that these new for ms of tourism should do the following: first, they should conserve the wildlife and culture of the area; second, they should benefit the local people; third, they should make a profitwithout destroying natural resources; and finally they should provide an experience that t ourists want to pay for.2013 What is a dream forOne theory is that we dream to release the deep, secret desires. We do not express these desires in real life because of the rules of polite society. Another theory is that dreams all ow us to solve problems that we can’t solve in real life. We go to sleep with a problem an d wake up with the solution. This may be a way to use our dreams rather than a purpose o f dreaming. If you believe that your dreams are important then analysing them may help y ou to focus on the problem and help you to find the solution.The modern image is that dreams are the brain’s way of cleaning up the computer’s hard disk. Dreams organize the events of the day into folders and delete what is not needed. B ut we all know that very little of what we dream is concerned with what happened to us th at day.。

21.SoilsThere are many different kinds of soils. Different soils have different types of rock and minerals in them. Some soils have more water in them than others. Some soils might have more plant and animal material in them, too. Different kinds of soils are found in different parts of the world. There are several kinds of soils found in the United States. In some areas, the soil has a lot of clay. Other soils are very sandy. Loam is a kind of soil that has a good mixture of clay and sand. In some places, soil layers are very thick. Lots of plants grow in places with a thick soil layer. In dry and windy places soil layers are much thinner. Layers of soil on mountains are thin because gravity pulls the soil downhill. The type of soil in a particular place affects what kinds of plants can grow there.22. Crisis Life is a contest! Who will win? A bluebird and sparrow both compete for space to build their nests. A fast-growing maple tree and slower-growing dogwood compete for the sunlight they both need. Oil competes with coal and nuclear power as an energy source for electric power plants! There is a problem. There is a limited amount of space for birds, sunlight for trees, and energy for people! If we do not cut back on our uses of some of our resources, someday they will be gone! How can we use energy today and know we will have enough to go around in the future? We can choose alternate, or replacement, energy resources. It takes theearth millions of years to create coal, oil, and gas. They are nonrenewable resources. Solar energy, wind energy and water energy are renewable resources. It takes the earth millions of years to create coal, oil, and gas. They are nonrenewable resources. Solar energy, wind energy and water energy are renewable. What other ways can we conserve our resources? How can we make sure there is always enough to go around?23. America’s Worst Surprise December 7, 1941 was one of the worst days in American history. Nearly all Americans who are old enough to remember that day can still remember what they were doing at the moment they heard “the news”. The news was that America had been attacked! Shortly before 2:00 P.M., a radio dispatch came into Washington from Honolulu, Hawaii. “Air Raid, Pearl Harbor—This is no drill.” Japanes e planes had begun an attack on the largest American military base in the Pacific. They first destroyed planes on the ground. Then they bombed the ships in the harbor. No one had expected the attack. So no one was prepared for it. And it did not take long for Japanese to do their damage. When the smoke cleared, the Navy counted its losses. Eighteen ships had been sunk or badly damaged. Nearly 150 planes had been destroyed. More than 2,400 Americans had been killed and more than 1,200 wounded.24. Great Depression in the U.S.In 1929, the bills started to come in. American industry had produced too many goods. Americans could not afford to buy all of them. So factories had to cut down on their production. Many workers lost their jobs. Investors tried to get their money back. But businesses did not have enough money to pay them. Banks tried to get their money back from investors. But the investors could not pay, either. Too many people owed money. And few of them could pay their bills. During the next few years, business got worse and worse. By 1932, banks all over the country were closing. People without money could not buy goods. So more businesses closed. More and more people lost their jobs. By 1932, more than 12 million Americans were jobless. Millions more were earning barely enough to live on. The country was in a great depression they had never experienced before.25. A Place of Our Own We are all usually very careful when we buy something for the house. Why? Because we have to live with it for a long time. We paint a room to make it brighter, so we choose the colors carefully. We buy new curtains in order to match the newly decorated room, so they must be the right color. We move the furniture round so as to make more space—or we buy new furniture—and so on. It is an endless business. Rich or poor, we take time to furnish a room. Perhaps some people buy furniture in order to impress their friends. But most of us just want to enjoy our surroundings.We want to live as comfortably as we can afford to. We spend a large part of our lives at home. We want to make a small corner in the world which we can recognize as our own.26. Travel for WorkYou can see them in every airport in the world. They are businessmen and women who have to travel for their work. When they first applied for the job, they may have thought of good food and hotels, huge expense accounts and fashionable cities. Now they have to sit in airport lounges, tired and uncomfortable in their smart clothes, listening to the loudspeaker anno unce “The fight of Tokyo, or Berlin, or New York is delayed for another two hours.” Some people say to me, “How lucky you are to be able to travel abroad in your work! You can go sightseeing without paying any money by yourself!” They think that my job is like a continual holiday. It is not. There are advantages, of course, and I do thin I am lucky, but only because I can go to places I would never visit if I was a tourist.27. IntelligenceAre some people born clever, and others born stupid? Or is intelligence developed by our environment and our experience? Strangely enough, the answer to these questions is yes. To some extent our intelligence is given us at birth, and no amount of special education canmake a genius out of a child born with low intelligence. On the other hand, a child who lives in a boring environment will develop his intelligence less than one who lives in rich and varied surroundings. Thus, the limits of a person’s intelligence are fixed at birth, whether or not he reaches those limits will depend on his environment. This view, held by most experts now, can be supported in a number of ways. As is easy to show that intelligence is to some extent something we are born with. The closer the blood relationship between two people is, the closer they are likely to be in intelligence.28. A Free Dress Every Week The temptation to steal is greater than ever before especially in large shops and people are not so honest as they once were. A detective recently watched a well-dressed woman who always went into a large store on Monday mornings. One Monday, there were fewer people in the shop than usual when the woman came in, so it was easier for the detective to watch her. The woman first bought a few small articles. After a little time, she chose one of the most expensive dresses in the shop and handed it to an assistant who wrapped it up for her as quickly as possible. The woman simply took the parcel and walked out of the shop without paying. When she was arrested, the detective found out that the shop assistant was her daughter. Believe it or not, the girl “gave” her mother a free dress every week!29. Time Time is tangible. One can gain time, spend time, waste time, save time, or even kill time. Common questions in American English reveal this concrete quality as though time were a possession. “Do you have any time?”, “Can you get some time for this?”, “How much free time do you have?” The treatment of time as a possession influences the way that time is carefully divided. Generally, Americans are taught to do one thing at a time and may be uncomfortable when an activity is interrupted. In businesses, the careful scheduling of time and the separation of activities are common practices. Appointment calendars are printed with 15-,30-, and 60-mi nute time slots. The idea that “there is a time and place for everything” extends to American social life. Visitors who drop by without prior notice may interrupt their host’s personal time. Thus, calling friends on the telephone before visiting them is generally preferred to visitors’ dropping by.30. Cartoonists In a good cartoon, the artist can tell in a few lines as much as a writer can tell in half a dozen paragraphs. The cartoonist not only tells a story but he also tries to persuade the reader to his way of thinking. He has great influence on public opinion. In a political campaign, he plays an important part. Controversial issues in Congress or at meetings of the United Nations may keep the cartoonist well-supplied with currentmaterials. A clever cartoonist may cause laughter because he often uses humor in his drawings. If he is sketching a famous person, he takes a prominent feature and exaggerates it. Cartoonists, for instance, like to lengthen an already long nose and to widen an already broad grin. This exaggeration of a person’s characteristics is called caricature. The artist uses such exaggeration to put his message across.。

英语专业四级听写50篇原文!Passage 1Town and Country Life in EnglandThere is a big difference between town life and country life in England. In the country, everybody knows everybody else. They know what time you get up, what time you go to bed and what you have for dinner. If you want help, you will always get it and you will be glad to help others.In a large town like London, however, it can sometimes happen that you have never seen your next door neighbor and you do not know his name or anything about him. People in London are often very lonely. This is because people go to different places in the evenings and at weekends. If you walk through the streets in the centre of London on Sunday, it is like a town without people. One is sorry for old people living on their own. They could die in their homes and would not be discovered for weeks or even months. (154 words.)Passage 2A Change in Women’s LifeThe important change in women’s life-pattern has only recently begun to have its full effect on women’s economic pos ition. Even a few years ago most girls left school at the first opportunity, and most of them took a full-time job. However, when they married, they usually left work at once and never returned to it. Today the school-leaving age is sixteen, many girls stay at school after that age, and though women tend to marry younger, more married women stay at work at least until shortly before their first child is born. Very many more afterwards return to full-time or part-time work. Such changes have led to a new relationship in marriage, with husband accepting a greater share of the duties and satisfactions of family life and with both husband and wife sharing more equally in providing the money, and running the home, according to the abilities and interests on each of them. (154 words) Passage 3A Popular Pastime of the English PeopleOne of the best means of understanding the people of any nation is watching what they do with their non-working time.Most English men, women and children love growing things, especially flowers. Visitors to England in spring, summer, or autumn are likely to see gardens all the way along the railway lines. There are flowers at the airports and flowers in factory grounds, as well as in gardens along the roads. Each English town has at least one park with beautifully kept flower beds. Public buildings of every kind have brilliant window boxes and sometimes baskets of flowers are hanging on them.But what the English enjoy most is growing things themselves. If it is impossible to have a garden, then a widow box or something growing in a pot will do. Looking at each other’s gardens is a popular pastime with the English. (144words.) Passage 4British and American Police OfficersReal policemen, both in Britain and the ., hardly recognize any common points between their lives and what they see on TV—if they ever get home in time.Some things are about the same, of course, but the policemen do not think much of them.The first difference is that a policeman’s real life deals with the law. Most of what he learns is the law. He has to know actually what actions are against the law and what facts can be used to prove them in court. He has to know nearly as much law as a lawyer, and what’s more, he has to put it into practice on his feet, in the dark and, running down a narrow street after someone he wants to talk to.Little of his time is spent in talking with beautiful girls or in bravely facing cruel criminals. He will spend most of his working life arranging millions of words on thousands of forms about hundreds of sad, ordinary people who are guilty —or not of stupid, unimportant crimes. (177words) Passage 5Living SpaceHow much living space does a person need? What happens when his space needs are not met? Scientists are doing experiments on rats to try to determine the effects of overcrowded conditions on man. Recent studies have shown that the behavior of rats is greatly affected by space. If rats have enough living space, they eat well, sleep well and produce their young well. But if their living conditions become too crowded, their behavior and even their health change obviously. They can not sleep and eat well, and signs of fear and worry become clear. The more crowded they are, the more they tend to bite each other and even kill each other. Thus, for rats, population and violence are directly related. Is this a natural law for human society as well? Is enough space not only satisfactory, but necessary for human survival? These are interesting questions.(147 words) Passage 6The United NationsIn 1945, representatives of 50 nations met to plan this organization. It was called the United Nations. After the war, many more nations joined. There are two major parts of the United Nations. One is called the General Assembly. In the General Assembly, every member nation is represented and has an equal vote.The second part is called the Security Council. It has representatives of just 15 nations. Five nations are permanent members: the United States, Russia, France, Britain and China. The 10 other members are elected every two years by the General Assembly.The major job of the Security Council is to keep peace in the world. If necessary, it can send troops from member nations to try to stop little wars before they turn into big ones.It is hard to get the nations of the Security Council to agree on when this is necessary. But they did vote to try to stop wars. (156 words) Passage 7PlasticWe use plastic wrap to protect our foods. We put our garbage in plastic bags or plastic cans. We sit on plastic chairs, play with plastic toys, drink from plastic cups, and wash our hair with shampoo from plastic bottles!Plastic doesn’t grow in nature. It is made by mixing certain things together. We call it a produced or manufactured material. Plastic was first made in the 1860s from plants, such as wood and cotton. That plastic was soft and burned easily.The first modern plastics were made in 1930s. Most clear plastic starts out as thick, black oil. That plastic coating inside a pan begins as natural gas.Over the years, hundreds of different plastics have been developed. Some are hard and strong. Some are soft and bendable. Some are clear. Some are many-colored. There is a plastic for almost every need. Scientists continue to experiment with plastics. They hope to find even ways to use them! (160 words)Passage 8Display of GoodsAre supermarkets designed to persuade us to buy more?Fresh fruit and vegetables are displayed near supermarket entrances. This gives the impression that only healthy food is sold in the shop. Basic foods that everyone buys, like sugar and tea, are not put near each other. They are kept in different aisles so customers are taken past other attractive foods before they find what they want. In this way, shoppers are encouraged to buy products that they do not really need.Sweets are often placed at children’s eye level at the checkout. While parents are waiting to pay, children reach for the sweets and put them in the trolley.More is bought from a fifteen-foot display of one type of product than from a ten-foot one. Customers also buy more when shelves are full than when they are a half empty. They do not like to buy from shelves with few products on them because they feel there is something wrong with those products that are there. (166 words)Passage 9Albert EinsteinAlbert Einstein was born in Germany in 1879. His father owned a factory that made electrical devices. His mother enjoyed music and books. His parents were Jewish but they did not observe many of the religion’s rules. Albert was a quiet child who spent much of his time alone. He was slow to talk and had difficulty learning to read. When Albert was five years old, his father gave him a compass. The child was filled with wonder when he discovered that the compass needle always pointed in the same direction—to the north. He asked his father and his uncle what caused the needle to move. Their answers about magnetism and gravity weredifficult for the boy to understand. Yet he spent a lot of time thinking about them. He said later that he felt something hidden had to be behind things. (143 words.)Passage 10Private CarsWith the increase in the general standard of living, some ordinary Chinese families begin to afford a car. Yet opinions of the development of a private car vary from person to person.It gives a much greater degree of comfort and mobility. The owner of a car is no longer forced to rely on public transport, and hence no irritation caused by waiting for buses or taxis. However, others strongly object to developing private cars. They maintain that as more and more cars are produced and run in the street, a large volume of poisonous gas will be given off, polluting the atmosphere and causing actual harm to the health of people.Whether private cars should be developed in China is a difficult question to answer, yet the desire for the comfort and independence a private car can bring will not be eliminated.(143words)Passage 11A Henpecked Husband and His WifeThere was once a large, fat woman who had a small, thin husband. He had a job in a big company and was given his weekly wages every Friday evening. As soon as he got home on Fridays, his wife used to make him give her all his money, and then she used to give him back only enough to buy his lunch in his company every day.One day, the small man came home very excited. He hurried into the living-room. His wife was listening to the radio and eating chocolates there.“You will never guess what happened to me today, dear,” he said.He waited for a few seconds and then added, “I won ten thousand dollars on the lottery!”“That is wonderful!” said his wife delightedly. But then she pulled a long face and added angrily, “But how could you afford to buy the ticket?” (148 words)Passage 12A Young Man’s PromiseOne day a young man was writing a letter to his girl friend who lived just a few miles away in a nearby town. He was telling her how much he loved her and how wonderful he thought she was. The more he wrote, the more poetic he became. Finally, he said that in order to be with her he would suffer the greatest difficulties, he would face the greatest dangers that anyone could imagine. In fact, to spend only one minute with her, he would swim across the widest river, he would enter the deepest forest, and he would fight against the fiercest animals with his bare hands.He finished the letter, signed his name, and then suddenly remembered that he had forgotten to mention something quite important. So, in a postscript below his name, he added:“By the way, I’ll be over to see you on Wednesday night, if it doesn’t rain.” (154 words)Passage 13A Kind NeighborMr. and Mrs. Jones’ apartment was full of luggage, package, furniture and boxes. Both of them were very busy when they heard the doorbell ring. Mrs. Jones went to open it and she saw a middle-aged lady outside. The lady said she lived next door. Mrs. Jones invited her to come in and apologized because there was no place for her to sit. “Oh, that’s OK,” said the lady. “I just come to welcome you to your new home. As you know, in some parts of this city neighbors are not friendly at all. There are some apartment houses where people don’t know any of their neighbors, not even the ones next door. But in this building everyone is very friendly with everyone else. We are like one big hap py family. I’m sue you’ll be very happy here. ” Mr. and Mrs. Jones said, “But madam, we are not new dwellers in this department. We’ve lived her for two years. We’re moving out tomorrow. ” (163 words)Passage 14That Isn’t Our FaultMr. and Mrs. Williams got married when he was twenty-three, and she was twenty. Twenty-five years later, they had a big party, and a photographer came and took some photographs of them.Then the photographer gave Mrs. Williams a card and said, “They’ll be ready next Wednesday. You can get them from studio.”“No,” Mrs. William said, “Please send them to us.”The photographs arrived a week later, but Mrs. Williams was not happy when she saw them. She got into her car and drove to the photographer’s studio. She went inside and sa id angrily, “You took some photographs of me and my husband last week, but I’m not going to pay for them.”“Oh, Why not?” the photographer asked.“Because my husband looks like a monkey,” Mrs. William said.“Well,” the photographer answered, “that isn’t our fault. Why didn’t you think of that before you married him?” (148 words)Passage 15A Guide’s AnswerIn 1861, the Civil War started in the United States between the Northern and the Southern states. The war continued with great bitterness until 1865, when the Northerners were victorious. However, even today, many Southerners have not forgotten their defeat, or forgiven the Northerners.A few years ago, a party of American tourists were going round one of the battlefields of the Civil War with a guide who came from one of the Southernstates. At each place, the guide told the tourists stirring stories about how a few Southern soldiers had conquered powerful forces of Northerners there.At last, one of the tourists, a lady who came from the North, stopped the guide and said to him, “But surely the Northern army must have won at least one victory in the Civil War?”“Not as long as I’m the guide here, madam,” answered the Southern guide.(147 words)Passage 16A Qualified PilotThe captain of a small ship had to go along a rocky coast, but he was unfamiliar with it, so he tried to find a qualified pilot to guide him. He went ashore in one of the small ports, and a local fisherman pretended that he was a pilot because he needed some money. The captain took him on board and asked him where to steer the ship.After half an hour the captain began to suspect that the fisherman did not really know what he was doing and where he was going.“Are you sure you are a qualified pilot?” he asked.“Oh, yes,” answered the fisherman. “I know every rock on this part of the coast.”Suddenly there was a terrible crash from under the ship. At once the fisherman added, “And that’s one of them.” (138 words)Passage 17Living Things ReactYou and all organisms live in an environment. An environment is made up of everything that surrounds an organism. It can include the air, the water, the soil, and even other organisms.An organism responds to changes in its environment. When an organism responds to a change, it reacts in certain ways. All living things respond in some way.Have you ever noticed how plants and insects respond to light? Plants bend toward light. Insects fly toward light.Living things also respond in other ways. The leaves on some trees respond to a change in season. In autumn, they change colors and then fall offthe branches. Animals also respond to a change in season. Squirrels save nuts for the winter. Bears sleep through the winter in a cave.You respond to your environment in many ways, too. You may shiver if you are cold. What other ways do you respond to changes in your environment? (156 words)Passage 18Flowering PlantsWhat are the parts of a flower?Flowers can have male parts and female parts. The female parts make eggs that become seeds. The male parts make pollen. Pollen is a powdery material that is needed by the eggs to make seeds. To make seeds, pollen and eggs must come together. The wind, insects, and birds bring pollen to eggs. Many animals love flowers’ bright colors. They also like a sugary liquid in flowers. This is called nectar. While they drink nectar, pollen rubs off on their bodies. As they move, some of this pollen gets delivered to the female flower parts.Over time, the female parts turn into fruits that contain seeds. Animals often eat the fruits and the seeds pass through their bodies as waste. The animals do not know they are working for the plants by planting seeds as they travel to different places. (147 words)Passage 19Finding the Direction and LocationHow can you tell which direction? By day, look for the Sun. It is in the east in the morning and the west in the afternoon. At night, use the Big Dipper to help you find the North Star. It would be better to bring a compass because its needle always points north.How do you know how far you have gone? You could count every step. Each step is about two feet. You’d better wear a pedometer which is a tool that counts steps. If you know where you started, which direction you are heading, and how far you have gone, you can use a good map to figure out exactly where you are.Today there is a new way for travelers to figure out where they are. It is the GPS. It has 24 satellites that orbit the earth and constantly broadcast their positions. Someday you may carry a small receiver as you hike and use GPS to find out if you are there yet!Passage 20WavesHow does light get from the sun to the earth? How does music get from the stage to the audience? They move the same way — in waves!Light and sound are forms of energy. All waves carry energy, but they may carry it differently. Light and sound travel through different kinds of matter. For example, light waves cannot move through walls, but sound waves can. That is why you can hear people talking in another room even though you cannot see them. The energy of some waves is destructive. An earthquake produces seismic waves.Catch a wave. Ask a friend to stand a few feet away from you. Stretch a spring between you. Shake the spring to transfer energy to it. What happens? The spring bounces up and down in waves. When the waves reach your friend, they bounce back to you!Light waves travel 300,000 kilometers (186,000 miles) per second! They can also travel through a vacuum. That is why light from the sun and distant stars can travel through space to the earth.(175 words)Passage 21SoilsThere are many different kinds of soils. Different soils have different types of rock and minerals in them than other. Some soils have more water in them than others. Some soils might have more plant and animal material in them, too.Different kinds of soils are found in different parts of the world. There are several kinds of soils found in the United States. In some areas, the soil has a lot of clay. Other soils are very sandy. Loam is a kind of soil that has a good mixture of clay and sand.In some places, soil layers are very thick. Lots of plants grow in places with a thick soil layer. In dry and windy places soil layers are much thinner. Layers of soil on mountains are thin because gravity pulls the soil downhill.The type of soil in a particular place affects what kinds of plants can grow there. (150 words) Passage 22CrisisLife is a contest! Who will win? A bluebird and sparrow both compete for space to build their nests. A fast-growing maple tree and slower-growing dogwood compete for the sunlight they both need. Oil competes with coal and nuclear power as an energy source for electric power plants.There is a problem. There is a limited amount of space for birds, sunlight for trees, and energy for people! If we do not cut back on our uses of some of our resources, someday they will be gone!How can we use energy today and know we will have enough to go around in the future? We can choose alternate, or replacement, energy resources. It takes the earth millions of years to create coal, oil, and gas. They are nonrenewable resources.Solar energy, wind energy and water energy are renewable. What other ways we conserve our resources? How can we make sure there is always enough to go around? (159 words.)Passage 23Ameri ca’s Worst SurpriseDecember 7, 1941 was one of the worst days in American history. Nearly all Americans who are old enough to remember that day can still remember what they were doing at the moment they heard “the news”. The news was that America had been attacked!Shortly before 2:00 ., a radio dispatch came into Washington from Honolulu, Hawaii. “Air Raid, Pearl Harbor —This is no drill.” Japanese planes had begun an attack on the largest American military base in the Pacific. They first destroyed places on the ground. Then they bombed the ships in the harbor.No one had expected the attack. So no one was prepared for it. And it did not take long for the Japanese to do their damage. When the smoke cleared, the Navy counted its losses. Eighteen ships had been sunk or badly damaged. Nearly 150 planes had been destroyed. More than 2,400 Americans had been killed and more than 1,200 wounded. (157 words)Passage 24Great Depression in the U.S.In 1929, the bills started to come in. American industry had produced too many goods. Americans could not afford to buy all of them. So factories had to cut down on their production. Many workers lost their jobs. Investors tried to get their money back. But businesses did not have enough money to pay them. Banks tried to get their money back from investors. But the investors could not pay, either. Too many people owned money. And few of them could pay their bills.During the next few years, business got worse and worse. By 1932, banks all over the country were closing.People without money could not buy goods. So more businesses closed. More and more people lost their jobs. By 1932, more than 12 million Americans were jobless. Millions more were earning barely enough to live on. The country was in a great depression they had never experienced before. (151 words)Passage 25A Place of Our OwnWe are all usually very careful when we buy something for the house. Why? Because we have to live with it for a long time. We paint a room to make it brighter, so we choose the colours carefully.We buy new curtains in order to match the newly decorated room, so they must be the right colour. We move the furniture round so as to make more space — or we buy new furniture — and so on. It is an endless business.Rich or poor, we take time to furnish a room. Perhaps some people buy furniture in order to impress their friends. But most of us just want to enjoy our surroundings. We want to live as comfortably as we can afford to. We spend a large part of our lives at home. We want to make a small corner in the world which we can recognize as our own. (151 words)Passage 26Travel for WorkYou can see them in every airport in the world. They are businessmen and women who have to travel for their work.When they first applied for the job, they may have thought of good food and hotels, huge expense accounts and fashionable cities. Now they have to sit in airport lounges, tired and uncomfortable in their smart clothes, listening to the loudspeaker announce “The flight to Tokyo, or Berlin, or New Y ork is delayed for another two hours”. Some people say to me, “How lucky you are to be able to travel abroad in your work! You can go sightseeing without paying any money by yourself!” They think that my job is like a continual holiday. It is not.There are advantages, of course, and I do think I am lucky, but only because I can go to places I would never visit if I was a tourist. (149 words) Passage 27IntelligenceAre some people born clever, and others born stupid? Or is intelligence developed by our environment and our experience?Strangely enough, the answer to these questions is yes. To some extent our intelligence is given us at birth, and no amount of special education can make a genius out of a child born with low intelligence. On the other hand, a child who lives in a boring environment will develop his intelligence less than one who lives in rich and varied surroundings. Thus, the limits of a person’s intelligence are fixed at birth, whether or not he reaches those limits will depend on his environment. This view, held by most experts now, can be supported in a number of ways. As is easy to show that intelligence is to some extent something we are born with. The closer the blood relationship between two people is, the closer they are likely to be in intelligence. (154 words) Passage 28A Free Dress Every WeekThe temptation to steal is greater than ever before especially in large shops and people are not so honest as they once were.A detective recently watched a well-dressed woman who always went into a large store on Monday mornings. One Monday, there were fewer people in the shop than usual when the woman came in, so it was easier for the detective to watch her. The woman first bought a few small articles. After a little time, she chose one of the most expensive dresses in the shop and handed it to an assistant who wrapped it for her as quickly as possible. The woman simply took the parcel and walked out of the shop without paying. When she was arrested, the detective found out that the shop assistant was her daughter.. Believe it or not, the girl “gave” her mother a free dress every week. (148 words)Passage 29TimeTime is tangible. One can gain time, spend time, waste time, save time, or even kill time. Common questions in American English r eveal this concrete quality as though time were a possession. “Doyou have any time?”, “Can you get some time for this?”, “How much free time do you have?” The treatment of time as a possession influences the way that time is carefully divided.Generally, Americans are taught to do one thing at a time and may be uncomfortable when an activity is interrupted. In businesses, the careful scheduling of time and the separation of activities are common practices. Appointment calendars are printed with 15-, 30-, and 60-minute time slots. The idea that “there is a time and place for everything” extends to American social life. Visitors who drop by without prior notice may interrupt their host’s personal time. Thus, calling friends on the telephone before visiting th em is generally preferred to visitors’ dropping by. (157 words) Passage 30CartoonistIn a good cartoon, the artist can tell in a few lines as much as a writer can tell in half a dozen paragraphs. The cartoonist not only tells a story but he also tries to persuade the reader to his way of thinking. He has great influence on public opinion. In a political campaign, he plays an important part. Controversial issues in Congress or at meetings of the United Nations may keep the cartoonist well-supplies with current materials.A clever cartoonist may cause laughter because he often uses humour in his drawings. If he is sketching a famous person, he takes a prominent feature and exaggerates it. Cartoonists, for instance, like to lengthen an already long nose and to widen an already broad grin. This exaggeration of a person’s characteristics is called caricature. The artist uses such exaggeration to put his message across. (144 words)Passage 31Water PollutionWater is very important to us. Factories and plants need water for industrial uses and large pieces of farmland need it for irrigation. Without water to drink, people die in a short time.Today most water sources are so dirty that people must purify water before drinking. Water becomes dirty in many ways: industrial pollution is one of them. With the development of industry, plants and factories pour tons of industrial wastes into rivers every day. The rivers have become seriously polluted, and the water is becoming unfit for drinking or irrigation. The same thing has also happened to our seas and oceans. So, the problem of water pollution is almost worldwide.Scientists of many countries have done a lot of work to stop pollution. The polluted water in some places has become clean and drinkable again. Perhaps one day the people in all towns and cities will be drinking clean water. That day, we believe, is not very far off. (161 words) Passage 32Making a ComplaintComplaining about faulty goods or bad services is never easy. But if something you have bought is faulty or does not do what was claimed for it, you are not asking for a favour to get it put right.。

英语专业四级听力材料以下是一份可能的英语专业四级听力材料：听力材料一：There's one sound that gets a big reaction from kids on a hot day, the sound of an ice-cream truck. In the hot weather, Maria McCartney has been in the mobile ice-cream business since 2005.问题：1. What kind of business is Maria McCartney in?2. When did Maria McCartney start her mobile ice-cream business?3. Why does the sound of an ice-cream truck get a big reaction from kids on a hot day?听力材料二：Woman: Good morning. Sit down, please, Mr. Johnson.Mr. Johnson: Thank you, Ma’am. Good morning.Conversation Two: Woman: Excuse me. Could I ask you some questions?Woman: I work for an advertising agency, and I’m doing some research. It’s for a new magazine for people like you.Man: OK. Man: En… Twice a week, three t imes a week?Man: Parcel Express, Good morning. How can I help you?问题：1. What does the woman want to ask the man?2. Who does the woman work for?3. What is the man's response to the woman's questions?。